Earthworking attachment for tractors



Dec. 16, 1930. A. s. HUGHES EARTH WORKING ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS 4 Sheets$heet l Filed Dec.

ATTORNEY Dec. 16, 1930. A. s. HUGHES 1,785,122

EARTH WORKING ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS Filed Dec. 16 192 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES ATTORNEY Dec. 16, 1930. A. s. HUGHES 1,785,122

EARTH WORKING ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS Filed Dec. 16, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INV WITNESSES 77PM BY 6? 2 W ATTORNEY Dec. 16, 1930. A. s. HUGHES EARTH WORKING ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 16

u fies Wi -row? ATTORNEY W 3 MM I w I WITNESSES 0 777 MM. 5. 72 {WM/we Patented Dec; 16, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR SHERIDAN HUGHES, OI MANSFIELD, OHIO EARTHWORKING ATTACHMENT FOB TRACTOBS Application flledDeeember 16, 1926. Serial 1V0. 155,266.

This invention relates to an earth working attachment for tractors comprising a road grader or back filler of novel and improved construction, and means for controlling and operating the same from the engine of the tractor.

The general object of the invention is to provide an attachment of this character which may be easily secured in operative relation to a small tractor of well-known type without any material alteration in the latter, which is easy to operate and control, and which may be equipped with a number of interchangeable devices for performing the various operations incident to grading or excavating, or

handling heavy or bulky material.

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a back filler op- 2 eratively connected to a tractor.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is a side elevation similar to Figure 2, but showing a scoop or loading attachment in place of the back filler.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view through a portion of the frame of the back filler, showing means for adjustably locking the blade supporting frame.

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the same unlocked.

The attachment is shown in connection with a Fordson tractor having a body portion 1, with a rear axle housing 2 supported by rear wheels 3, and having at its front end a yoke 4 connected by a ivot pin or bolt 5 to a front axle tree 6, w ich is supported by front wheels 7. The tractor is provided on one side with a sprocket wheel 8 (Fig. 2), which is driven by the tractor engine, and

from which power may be taken.

The illustrative attachment has a frame with side rails 9, preferably in the form of channel bars, and secured near their rear ends to the rear axle housing 2 by stirrups 10. De-

' pending angle bars 11 are secured .to the front ends of the side rails 9, and are connected at their lower ends by a cross bar 12 (Fig. 1 Brace bars13 are secured at their upper en s to the angle bars 11, and extend downwardly and inwardly toward the pivot bolt 5 to which they are connected. Upright channel pieces 14 are secured to the side rails 9 near their front ends, and are connected by a' cross bar 15.

Secured to the front end of each rail 9 is a corner plate 16, which is also secured to the frame pieces 11 and 14. At each side of the tractor, an upwardly and forwardly inclined bar 17 is secured at its lower end to the corner plate 16, and the two bars 17 are secured in parallel relation by brace bars 18. Each side of the frame also has a downwardly and rearwardly inclined bar 19, secured to the bars 17 and 9 by corner plates 20 and 21, respectively.

The hereinafter described back filler, or other implement interchangeable therewith, is supported by parallel arms 22, which are pivoted at their rear ends to the side rails 9, as shown at 23, and which extend forwardly in front of the tractor. Rails 24;, angular in cross section, are suitably secured to the respective bars 17, and serve to guide the arms 22, when the latter are raised or lowered. The arms 22 are preferably reinforced by flanged plates 25.

The grader orback filler comprises a supporting frame, including a semi-circular bar 26, with its forwardly disposed ends rigidly connected by a transverse angle bar 27 which is secured thereto by suitable lugs 28. The frame 26, 27 is supported from the ends of the arms 22 by means of ears 29 secured to the bar 27, and connected to the arms 22 b pins or bolts 30. The frame 26 is also rigi 1y secured to the arms 22 by means of brackets 31.

The frame 26, 27 supports an adjustable frame comprising a semi-circular bar 32, T- shaped in cross section, and having forwardly disposed ends which are rigidly connected by a transverse bar 33. The intermediate portion of the bar 33 is raised, as shown in Figure 6, and bears against the under side of the angle bar 27 to which it is connected by a pivot bolt 34. A brace bar 35 is connected at its front end to the pivot bolt 34 underncath the bar 33, and is rigidly connected at its rear end to the central part of the bar 26 by means of a bracket 36.

The upper part of the bracket 36 has a forwardly extending flange 37, in which a vertical plunger 38 slidably mounted. See Figs. 7 and 8. The lower end of this plunger is formed with a head 39, which is adapted to be projected through a hole 40 in the brace bar 35, and into any one of a series of holes 41 formed in the inner flange of the bar 32, whereby the frame 32, 33 maybe adjusted circumferentially about the pivot bolt 34, and locked in any position desired. Thus the angular position of the back filler is varied. Each of the brackets 31 is formed at its lower end with a pair of forwardly projecting flanges 3111, between which the rear flange of the T-bar 32 is supported and guided. The plunger 38 is normally held in locking position by an expansile coil spring 42, acting between the head 39 and the flange 37. A handle 43 is pivotally connected, as at 44, to the upper end of the plunger, and is formed with a cam 45, so arranged that when the handle 43 is in upright position, as shown in Figure 7, the plunger is in looking position, and when the handle is moved to the position shown in Figure 8. the plunger is in unlocking position.

The adjustable frame 32, 33 serves to support a transversely curved blade 46, having a cutting edge 47 adapted to engage the ground. An angle bar 48 is secured to the rear face of the blade 46 near its lower edge, and has pairs of cars 49 secured thereto, which are connected by pivot bolts or pins 50 to depending bars 51, which constitute extensions of the bar 32. A pair of braces 52 extend from the respective bolts 50 to the pivot bolt 34, and another pair of braces 53 extend from the bolts 50 to the side portions of the bar 32. The upper part of the blade 46 has rearwardly projecting ears 54 to which adjustable links 55 (Fig. 2) are connected. Each of these links is provided with a plurality of holes 56, any one of which may be connected by a pin 57 to a lug 58 secured to the adjacent end of the bar 32, whereby the pitch of the blade 46 may be adjusted about the bolts 50 as an axis.

The blade 46 is supported in proper relation to the ground by means of feet 59, formed with shanks 60, having series of holes 61 which may be selectively connected with the depending bars 51 by bolts 62 (Fig. 6) so that the feet will support the blade at the desired level.

The arms 22 and the implement carried thereby may be raised and lowered through the medium of a cable (to be described) wound up by a shaft 63, mounted in bearings 64 secured to the bars 19. The shaft 63 is driven by means of a sprocket wheel 65 mounted thereon, and connected by a sprocket chain 66 to the sprocket wheel 8. A suitable chain tightcner for the chain 66 comprises a sprocket wheel 67 about which the chain 66 passes, and which is mounted in the end of an arm 68, pivotally connected with one of the bars 19. A tension spring 69 is connected at one. end to the arm 68, and is adjustably con nccted at the other end to a bracket 70, which secured to the channel bar 9, or other suitable part of the frame. The sprocket gearing for driving the shaft 63, as well as the other mechanism connected with the latter, may be protected by a suitable guard 71.

Secured to each end of the shaft 63 is a drum 72 with one end of a cable 73 attached thereto, and adapted to be wound thereon when the shaft 63 is rotated. Each cable 73 passes from the drum 72, over a sheave 74 mounted on the end of a shaft 75, which is mounted in bearings 76 secured to the inclined bars 17. Each cable 73, after passing over the sheave 74, passes downwardly and forwardly, as at 77, about a sheave 78 mounted on a shaft 79, which is supported in the forward ends of the plates 25. A bridle 80 is mounted at each end of the shaft 79, and carries a guard 81 which prevents the cable. when slack, from running ofi' of the sheave 78. From the sheave 78, the cable passes upwardly and rearwardly, as at 82, about a sheave 83 also mounted on the shaft 75, and thence passes downwardly and forwardly, as at 84, and has one end anchored by securing it about the shaft 79, or some convenient part of the swinging frame. As the cables 73 are wound on the drums 72, therefore, the arms 22 and the implement carried thereby will be raised at a' reduced speed.

The sprocket wheel 65 is adapted to rotate idly on the shaft 63, until it is clutched thereto by suitable mechanism under control of the operator. For this purpose, a clutch drum 85 (Fig. 1) is secured to the sprocket wheel 65, and adjacent the drum 85 is a brake drum 86, which is keyed to the shaft. A clutch lever 87 is operated to clutch the drum 85 to the shaft by means of a cone 88, slidable longitudinally of the shaft 63 and keyed thereto. The longitudinal movement of the cone 88 is controlled by means of a lever 89, pivoted intermediately to an ear 90, which is secured to a cross bar 91 connecting the two bars 19. The free end of the lever 89 is connected by a link 92 to a hand lever 93, which is fulcrumd at 94 on the side bar 19, and extends to a point within easy reach of the driver.

In order to prevent accidental backward rotation of the shaft 63 and drums 72, the shaft has a ratchet Wheel 95 (Fig. 1) secured thereto. and provided with teeth which are normally engaged by a gravity pawl 96, which. however, may be raised out of engagement with the ratchet wheel when the arms 22 are lowered.

Provision is made for automatically throwing out the clutch when the arms 22 are swung u wardly. For this purpose, the front en of the lever 89 is connected by a link 97 to the depending arm of a bell crank 98, which is pivoted at 99 to an car 100 mounted on a transverse bar 101, which is secured to the bars 19. The other end of the bell crank extends laterally, as at 102, into the path of movement of one of the swinging arms, so that as the cables are wound about the drums 72 to raise the swinging arms, the upper edge of the plate 25 on one ofthe arms will engage the upper portion 102 of the bell crank 98, rocking the latter and thereby swinging the lever 89 about its fulcrum to release the clutch to stop the rotation of the shaft 63, with the arms 22 and the instrument carried thereby in their uppermost position.

The frame, which carries the back filler, shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, may be removed bodily from the arms 22 by removing the ins 30 and the bolts whichsecure the brac et 31, and in place of the back filler, a scoop or bucket 103 may bemounted on the arms 22, as shown in Figure 4, as claimed in the pending joint a plication of Howard F. Gorsuch and mysel Serial No. 113,962, filed June 5, 1926. This scoop or bucket, in the form herein shown, is reinforced on the bottom and rear faces by ribs 104, each of which is formed with a bearing 105 for receiving one of the pins 30. In mountin the scoop, the pins 30 act'as pivot pins a out which the scoop may swin when it is dumped. Contractile coil springs 106 connect the rear side of the scoop to the arms 22, and are strong enough to restore the scoop to leading position when empty, but. will permit the scoop to dump y gravity when loaded. The front ends of the flanged plates 25 are connected by an abutment bar 107, against which the rear wall of the scoop may engage. As the contents of the scoop are discharged, the spring will return it with a bang against the abutment bar, and will jar loose any sticky material which may adhere to the bottom and sides of the scoop.

Each of the ribs 104 has a pointed end 108 extending above the rear end of the scoop, and adapted to be engaged by a hook 109, which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 79, or some convenient part of the swinging arm. Connected with the hook 109 is an upwardly extending arm 110, which is connected to a rearwardly extending link 111. This link may be connected in any suitable manner to a cable 112, which extends to a point within reach of the driver, and may be pulled to release the scoop and permit the same to dump.

When the scoop is lowered to filling position, the arms 22 rest upon the end portions of the transverse bar 12. This gages the position ofthe scoop, and also aids in preventin the front end of the tractor from bucking.

he back filler attachment or the scoop 103, or any other material handlin device, may be interchangeably supporter? by the arms 22. The arms 22 also are removably attached to their pivots 23, and may be replaced by a swinging boom, or other lifting device.

When the scoop 103, or other lifting device, is used in connection with the tractor, it is desirable to provide a counterbalance at the rear end, and for this purpose a box 113 may be attached to the rear ends of side rails 9 to be filled with ballast, when it is deemed advisable to do so. The seat post 114 may also be extended rearwardly so as to locate the seat 115 rearwardly of the rear axle, so that the weight of the driver aids in counterbalancing the load to be lifted.

This application has a relationship to my allowed application Serial No. 150,897 filed November 26, 1926.

While I have shown and described the attachment particularly with reference to earth Working implements, it is apparent that many of the features shown may be used in a. variety of combinations and with various other attachments, and that the structure of many of the details thereof may be considerably modified without departing materially from the salient features of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an attachment for tractors, the combination of a main frame including side bars adapted to be secured at opposite sides of a tractor and upwardly extending bars secured to the side bars, guide rails secured to the upwardly extending bars, a swinging member pivoted to the side bars to swing about a horizontal axis, said swinging member including arms guided on said guide rails, earth working elements carried by the forward ends of said arms, mechanism operable to swing said member upwardly, a clutch controlling said mechanism, a lever intermediately fulcrumed on the main frame, means operable by the swinging of said lever about its fulcrum to connect or disconnect the clutch, manually actuated means connected with one end of said lever for swinging the same to shift the clutch, a bell crank having one end projecting into the path of one of said arms, and means connecting the bell crank to said lever to cause the latter to disconnect the clutch when the upwardly swinging member reaches a predetermined position.

about a horizontal axis, said swinging member including arms guided on said guide rails, earth working elements carried by the forward ends of said arms, cables connected to the swinging member, drums over which the cables may be wound to swing said member upwardly, a shaft on which the drums are secured, a wheel mounted on said shaft and driven from the tractor engine, a clutch for operatively connecting the wheel to the shaft, a lever intermediately fulcrumed 0n the main frame, means operable by the swinging of said lever about its fulcrum to connect or disconnect the clutch, manually actuated means connected with one end of said lever for swinging the same to shift the clutch, a bell crank having one end projecting into the path of one of said arms, and means connecting the bell crank to said lever to cause the latter to disconnect the clutch when the upwardly swinging member reaches a predetermined position.

3. In an attachment for tractors, the combination of a main frame, arms pivotally connected to the main frame to swing upwardly and downwardly, said arms extending forwardly of the main frame, means operable by the tractor engine for raising or lowering said arms, a supporting frame secured to the forward portions of said arms, an implement frame, a vertical pivot pin connecting the implement frame to the supporting frame, said implement frame having an arcuate flanged portion concentric with the pivot pin, brackets secured to the respective swinglng arms and to the supporting frame and having flanges between which the flanged arcuate portion of the implement frame is supported and guided, means for securing the implement frame in adjusted position with respect to the pivot pin, and an earth working implement carried by said implement frame.

4. In an attachment for tractors, the combination of a main frame, arms extending forwardly of the main frame and pivotally connected thereto for upward and downward swinging movement, means operable by the tractor engine for raising or lowering said arms, a semi-circular supporting frame secured to the forward portions of said arms with its convex side disposed rearwardly, a semi-circular implement frame beneath the supporting frame, a vertical pivot pin conmeeting the two semi-circular frames at the centers of curvature of their arcuate portions, brackets secured to the respective swinging arms and to the arcuate portion of the supporting frame and having flanges between which the arcuate portion of the implement frame is supported and guided, an earth working implement carried by said implement frame, and ground engaging feet secured to one of the arcuate frames to determine the height of the blade with reference to the ground.

5. In an attachment for tractors, the combination of a main frame, arms extending forwardly of the main frame and pivotally connected thereto for upward and downward swinging movement, a semi-circular supporting frame secured to the outer ends of the arms with its arcuate portion disposed rearwardly, a semi-circular implement frame beneath the supporting frame, a vertical pivot connecting the two semi-circular frames at the centers of curvature of their arcuate portions, brackets secured to the supporting frame and having flanges between which the arcuate portion of the implement frame is supported and guided, an earth engaging blade carried by the implement frame, means for adjusting the pitch of the frame, means for securing the implement frame at various positions about its pivot, integral downward extensions at the ends of the arcuate portion of the implement frame, and vertically adjustable ground engaging feet secured to said extensions to gage the height of the blade with reference to the ground.

6. In a grader attachment for tractors, the combination of a supporting frame which is arcuate, with a transverse bar joining the ends of the arcuate frame; a grader frame of the same general form and dimensions as the supporting frame, with a pivot bolt joining the transverse bars of both frames; a blade for back filling and grading; bars connecting the rear of the blade with the grader frame; braces connected by the pivot bolt to the two frames and secured to the blade near the ends thereof; and other braces secured to the blade near the ends and extending rearwardly and upwardly to connections at opposite points on the arcuate portion of the grader frame; the braces and bars thus supporting the blade and properly distributing the reaction from grading and back filling operations.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

ARTHUR SHERIDAN HUGHES.

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